The United States Department of State has announced a partial suspension of visa issuance to nationals of 19 countries, effective 1 January 2026.
The move follows Presidential Proclamation 10998, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.”
The suspension affects nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas, as well as all immigrant visas, with limited exceptions. The affected countries are Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Exceptions to the suspension include:
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Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran
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Dual nationals applying with a passport of a nationality not subject to the suspension
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Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for U.S. government employees under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(D)
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Participants in certain major sporting events
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Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs)
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The Department of State said the policy is part of ongoing efforts to safeguard U.S. national security while maintaining limited exceptions for humanitarian, diplomatic, and other specified purposes.
The announcement is expected to impact visa applications from prospective travellers, students, and immigrants from the listed countries, although applicants meeting the specified exceptions will still be eligible for processing.
